The city of Jackson, Mississippi, finds itself grappling with yet another water crisis. Following last year’s significant water supply challenges and a crisis that made national news in August of 2022, the recent boil water notice issued for the city and surrounding areas has reignited concerns over the reliability of its water infrastructure. City officials say that they are doing everything in their power and making improvements, however some residents are still wary.
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) issued a citywide boil water notice for Jackson on Thursday after E. coli was detected in two water samples submitted by JXN Water, Jackson’s third-party water manager. This notice coincided with a similar advisory for Flowood, raising questions about the water quality in the region. The Health Department’s decision was met with criticism from JXN Water’s Ted Henifin, who questioned the validity of the results and criticized the MSDH for not confirming the results before public announcement, as allowed under federal guidelines through the Environmental Protection Agency.
Henifin, during a press conference, argued against the likelihood of both Jackson and Flowood having E. coli contamination simultaneously and suggested the results could be false positives. In response, MSDH maintained confidence in the test results’ validity. However, the boil water notice for Jackson was lifted swiftly, diverging from the usual protocol that typically requires two consecutive days of clean samples. MSDH officials affirmed their stance behind the initial test results, citing a history of E. coli instances in Jackson’s water system since 2003. This quick reversal in decision-making contrasts starkly with last year’s prolonged water crisis, reflecting ongoing challenges in managing Jackson’s water safety effectively.
The lifting of the citywide notice did not mark a complete resolution, as Jackson still faces active boil water notices due to loss of pressure in certain areas, affecting hundreds of customers. These ongoing issues are a stark reminder of the fragility of Jackson’s water infrastructure, which has been a point of contention and difficulty for years. In preparation for the ongoing cold weather JXN Water has been proactively upgrading the city’s water treatment facilities after a severe failure last winter. These upgrades, including covering and insulating the facilities, are direct responses to the December 2022 water shutdown, when exposed equipment failed amid freezing temperatures, leading to a significant drop in water pressure throughout Jackson.
Jackson’s officials, including Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, are also advising residents to take preventive measures at home, like letting faucets drip and opening cabinets to prevent pipe freezing. The city is preparing for potential snow and icy conditions by cautioning residents to stay home and by setting up a temporary shelter for those in need. The recent boil water notice in Jackson, coming on the heels of last year’s prolonged water crisis, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the city in ensuring a reliable and safe water supply. While the quick resolution of the recent notice shows an improvement in response, the underlying issues of aging infrastructure and vulnerability to extreme weather conditions remain pressing concerns.
Resources: Mississippi Today, WAPT, MSDH MS
